Bruce Arnold: Gallagher's myth-making will bring shame on Aras

SEAN Gallagher has brought disgrace on this election and on his own campaign. He should make a public announcement in advance of tomorrow's vote, stating that he is withdrawing from the election because of the sustained misleading of the public. He is at liberty to do that and step out of the presidential race.

SEAN Gallagher has brought disgrace on this election and on his own campaign. He should make a public announcement in advance of tomorrow's vote, stating that he is withdrawing from the election because of the sustained misleading of the public. He is at liberty to do that and step out of the presidential race.

If he does not do so, he will permanently damage the office of President of Ireland. If he still wins, the media will be dealing with someone who has repeatedly misled the people, not by accident, but by design. Journalists in the future will question the truthfulness of anything he says. They will continue to hound him in office. There is no reason to suppose that his inventive myth-making will not dog us forever more.

He cannot be exonerated. The deliberately misleading presentation of himself has been too comprehensive and too fundamental. There is no resort to transparency. It would not be believed.

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